Samurai Shortstop

by Alan Gratz, Betty G. Birney

Tokyo, 1890. Toyo is caught up in the competitive world of boarding school, and must prove himself to make the team in a new sport called besuboru. But he grieves for his uncle, a samurai who sacrificed himself for his beliefs, at a time when most of Japan is eager to shed ancient traditions. It's only when his father decides to teach him the way of the samurai that Toyo grows to better understand his uncle and father. And to his surprise, the warrior training guides him to excel at baseball, a sport his father despises as yet another modern Western menace. This is a sports story and more, about a boy who must choose between two ways of life, but finds a way to bridge them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Sports, Young Adult, Baseball, Historical, Fiction, Japan

Audiobook

First published May 18, 2006

About the author

Alan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. His 2017 novel Refugee has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the winner of 14 state awards. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for Human Rights Honor. Refugee was also a Global Read Aloud Book for 2018.

Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.

Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.

Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book I chose by its cover. Our school had just received a shipment of new books and teachers were allowed to pick through the collections to add to their libraries. I liked the cover and I've been intrigued by Japanese historical fiction since reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" so I took the book home to read over the weekend.

I finished it in one evening. I couldn't put it down.

It's gory. It's detailed. I wish it weren't based on true stories but it is and, let me tell you, life in Japanese high school in the early 20th and late 19th centuries was tough! The blood, gore, and hazing students were expected to endure was appalling.

If I could just get some kids to read it, they'd be just as enthralled but I haven't had any success yet.

I could recommend this to any student interested in Japanese or Asian culture. I would also recommend it to students who like reading about school life; it would be great to contrast this historical account to the accounts of high school life nowadays.

[R · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this for my 13 year old son who loves baseball and history and who has loved many of Alan Gratz’s previous books. I thought it would be a slam dunk!! But my son read the first 5 pages and was so traumatized that he couldn’t go on. I read it also because I thought he was just being dramatic and, yeah, it’s pretty graphic— unnecessarily so, I think, for this age group. I assume the rest of the story was great (as Mr. Gratz’s books generally are) but unfortunately we will never know.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly readable historical fiction sports book. Well-researched, about late 19th century Japan, where the samurai way has just ended and baseball really does exist. The relations between the boys seems timeless, as does the baseball action.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I love all the other Gratz books I've read. This book is different from the others in that it doesn't have alternating viewpoints and is told from one POV the whole time. I enjoyed learning more about a newly open Japan and how the changes weren't going over well for some Japanese citizens. It is an era I am not too familiar with. I enjoyed the author's note at the end about what drew him to this story as well. The story itself was very graphic at times. I almost didn't make it through the first chapter due to the very detailed act of seppuku by Toyo's uncle. But the last sentence of the chapter just broke my heart and made me worry for our protagonist. The whole book had some disturbing and gross things, but they are, unfortunately, historically accurate for the time. Overall, reading this book made me feel anxiety about what might be coming next. I had to take a few breaks because I so dreaded something happening. Though I have to say, I was mostly worried for no reason, thankfully.

The streetcar was packed with salarymen in black suits and top hats hanging off the sides. Sparks flew from the elaborate series of power lines above the car, and its bell clanged constantly, a warning to the citizens of Tokyo to make way or be crushed beneath the wheels of progress.

The main conflict between Toyo and his father is one that plays out in every country and every time in history. The young are better at accepting changes to society since they aren't married to how things are and have more open minds to how things could be. Japan is changing very fast in this last half of the 19th century and it is too much for Toyo's father, who had been afforded the privileges of Samurai status and has had them taken away. He points our that the class system might not officially exist, but everyone still knows their place. It is quite upsetting for Toyo to hear his dad spout such blatant opinions about certain classes of people being so low that teaching them would be a waste. Me too, actually.

"To be hit by a Moriyama fastball is an honor exceeded only by being crushed under the wheels of the imperial carriage."

This is from the author's note. The pitcher for the team was based on a real person who was so good that the above quote was written. :) I'm sure I am happy not to have that honor.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an honor it is to read the masterful Alan Gratz's first novel. It seems most of his more recent books focus on a time in American history. Meanwhile, this novel focuses on baseball in Japanese history, something I knew nothing about. I appreciated the history of baseball in another country as well as learning about this slice of Japanese history. Gratz's ability to make history come alive is truly a gift for middle grade and young adult readers, making historical fiction even more accessible to today's readers. I wish Gratz would focus on other pieces of history besides those that are more well known. This is a perfect way for readers to learn about history they likely don't know anything about.

This book would be appropriate for middle and high school readers.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing that really bothered me about this novel were all the mentions of peeing. I mean really? I know it's a book about guys, but does it need to be mentioned in every other chapter (they "make rain"). The sexism in the novel bothered me, but it can be overlooked since the author was being authentic to the time period. Life at Ichiko is a little bit like Lord of the Flies because the boys govern themselves; they dispense punishments, cook, etc. The idea is that Ichiko is training future leaders of Japan so they boys should become men by self-governing themselves and others. Also, it's boarding school and the boys are supposed to be learning, but they might as well just be in school to be hazed and to play sports, because classes are never really discussed. I wanted to know more about the boys being in charge of their peers and the sort of classes a Japanese boarding school for boys would offer.

The author does an excellent job of remaining neutral throughout Samurai Shortstop. He presents the positive side of samurais, they were honorable, brave and loyal. He also presents their negative side, they were often cruel towards peasants and they held an elitist view. The reader must make up his or her own mind about the ways of the samurai and whether or not they think they are right. Even if you end up disagreeing with the samurai, you will come away from this book with new found respect for the samurai.

Samurai Shortstop tells the story of a time in Japanese history that is not often discussed in American textbooks. The author immerses us in 1890 Japan, through the food, language, clothes, samurai, athletics (judo and sumo wrestling) and yes, baseball. For those of you whose eyes glaze over at the mention of sports, don't hesitate to pick this book up. It's light enough on baseball information to keep those who are not baseball (or sports) fan interested, but there's enough baseball talk to keep sports fans happy. I loved reading how the author connected the way of the samurai (bushido) with baseball, Toyo begins to see connections and he uses his samurai training skills to become a better batter and shortstop. The terms for baseball plays in Japan are similar to English terms; homu ran is home run, pu-re boru (play ball) and besuboru is baseball. Toyo learns about bushido and honor and he also learns about compromises and standing up for what's right. This is historical fiction at its finest in my opinion, the author cleverly inserts details about Japanese culture into the story that is ultimately a coming-of-age and one that represents taking the good from both cultures with some fun and sports filled moments.

[Devyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samurai Shortstop is a commendable book. It opens a realistic door to Japan during the transition to the modern age and the end of the Samurai. It brings to life Ichiko, and what it must have been like to be a student there during that timeline. There's plenty of humor. The most notable funny part in this book for me was when the besuboru laded in a merchant's cha. Besuboru Cha! Ha! That was hilarious.
There are strong friendships, and some pretty rough scenes that make the good times all the more sweeter.
Plus, besuboru. Baseball.
Even if you are unfamiliar with baseball, this book describes it in such a way that you wont ever feel lost during the game play.
I honestly can not praise this book enough. The first few pages shocked me, but I kept going and it was wonderful. This book is just- Gah! I don't have words. I'm in love.
Besuboru, pu~re boru, homu ran, bushido, Edo.... This book is chalk full of Japanese words that I was ever so eager to learn. I taught my niece some of them and now we shriek them during her brother's baseball games, despite his obvious embarrassment.

[Bella Hoffmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off I had to read this book for class. For some background information, this book takes place after the sword ban and the western influence japan started to receive.
Okay on with the review, this book has both Japanese and English in it so you might need to translate a few words but not many. Usually, I like historical fiction but this book's pacing was super long and draw out. The first few chapters were laying the groundwork for the of the novel, like in the hobbit to takes a bit to take off. After the book takes off, it's like the name suggests is about baseball I usually don't like sports but this was an okay part. The most interesting thing about this book is the fight for acceptance the main character has with his dad after his uncle died. In all, I think this book was mediocre and was not the worst thing ever.

[David Rustyfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up for summer reading, and I was skeptical about it, but it looked interesting none the less. I picked it up one day and started reading the first 11 pages, and that had to be the best opening to a book ever. Hands down. It is also the only sports book I liked that I read, which is surprising because I don't like the genre to begin with. I recommend this to anyone who likes sports books or a vast helping of Japanese culture

[Caleb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not like this book because it is very confusing because it did not explain anything very well.
It wasn't very good because it repeated the same thing over and over.
The only thing I liked is that it is a samurai book and i like samurai.
Otherwise, I did not like it.
I would not really recommend me to anyone.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one did not appeal to me, but probably would appeal to teenage boys. It is a historical fiction title and quite graphic in places. I stopped reading it 1/2 way through...

[Sarah Murrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give this book a 3.5! I am not a huge sports reader, but this book did a nice job showcasing the transitioning culture of Japan during the late 1800’s.

[Steven Lemus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens in 1890's japan where the main character Toyo and his father assist Toyo's uncle koji with his seppuku( honorable suicide). For spoiler reasons I won't say why but he killed himself because it was his bushido(moral code). Due to toyo’s samurai ancestry he never understood why and what it meant to have a bushido. As he continues with his highschool life he joins one of the top schools in the country. Where they have a really good sports program. Toyo decides to join the baseball team even against his father’s wishes because of his hatred against the west. During his time on the team he learns more about Bushido and what it means to have it, with him using the samurai way to rise to the top. Towards the end of the book he joins a professional American football team and comes to terms with the death of his uncle and his moral code.

The way that the author Alan Grantz writes is very formal with his usage and integration of Japanese words in the story. Towards the beginning of the book before Toyo gets into baseball the author has a very sober and sad tone because of how the main character was feeling at that monument. Then when the main character starts playing baseball his writing becomes fast and action heavy. To put simply, based on how the main character or others in the story feels is how he writes that part.

The reason I gave the book only four out of five stars is because I thought the story had a good plot, but the pacing was not great. Some parts of the story felt like they were dragged on for no reason. Even still I would recommend this book to people who like stories with deeper meanings and people who just like eastern culture.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reviewing the book Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz. The novel is about a boy named Toyo who got into the most prestigious school in all of Japan called Ichiko. Toyo loves baseball so he tries out for the team. He makes it eventually and his dad starts teaching bushido. Toyo starts teaching the team bushido and it helps the bond and get better at baseball. The Ichiko baseball team plays Meiji. Meiji’s coach shows up late and starts a huge brawl. Later the Ichiko team plays an American team. The Ichiko team was supposed to purposely lose to apologize for the big fight that had happened. If you want to know what happens check out this book.








Spoilers ahead!!!




I think this book was great because there are so many cliffhangers and little mysteries with tons of suspense. The storm was one of my favorite mysteries. Toyo was trying to find out what the storm was but the upperclassmen kept teasing him. Another mystery I liked was the clenched-fist punishment. The clenched-fist punishment was a way to punish a boy who broke a rule of Ichiko. The clenched-fist punishment was when every boy in Ichiko would take turns hitting someone in the stomach or ribs.Something else I like about this book is that you get to learn so many cool background stories. One thing I don’t like about this book is that the baseball aspects are weird and incorrect. For example, Moryama is the only pitcher on the team and pitches all nine innings every game. But overall, I still loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone.

[Gsmyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a really well written and interesting book from Gratz. I think it is one of the earliest works that I have enjoyed of his (2006) and in a completely different vein. Having lived 2 times in Japan, I really enjoyed some of the historical perspective on what it was like during the change over from the Edo period to more modernity. I loved the character of Toyo but was sickened by the antics at Ichiko becasue the extent of the bullying and hazing was digusting. It also brought back memories of horribly bullying that I read about when I was a teacher in Japan that happened in 1997-98. I am not interested at all in baseball, and yet I still found the scenes exciting and well written. I listened to it as an audio book and my main gripe is that they should have had a Japanese speaker read. It was ridiculous how many things were mispronounced including the name of Toyo (it isn't Toy-yo....it is TOE-YO, it isn't SePOOku, it is SEpooku accent on the first syllable, it is Ah-socks-sa and not A-sa-koo-sa, and so on and so on....it makes it feel more ignorant to people that actually speak Japanese and irritates me in every reading that doesn't find a native speaker.) I felt like the characters were much more developed than in some of his newer works and now I am intrigued to visit Ichiko or to see if there is still a mound in Asakusa to view the city from.

[Monica L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time, I transitioned from one partially Japanese protagonist to another!

This was... well, a "delight" seems an odd word to choose for a story that begins with the stark seppuku of the main character's favorite uncle, but it really was an enjoyable read. I already knew a fair amount of some of the cultural background, but I learned a good amount as well. It was really fascinating to see a perspective of Western influence from two generations, and the rapid pace of change within Japan in such a short time can send anyone into the throes of a personality crisis.

The author even notes at the end that some of the cultural attitudes held by the students may seem utterly foreign to us, but it's important to contextualize it and important to understand that it should be portrayed accurately. I appreciated both the detail and acknowledgment.

It proved to feel a bit short, or at least ended abruptly, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

[Nik Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The storytelling and characters were easy to understand as well as the book itself. A good part about it is the events that take place around just baseball. How there are problems around just being the best at baseball. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes baseball and likes good books.

There isnt really anything that i dont like about this book. The only thing that i could think of is that it felt a little rushed at the end and just trying to pile everything up to wrap up the book. Otherwise i really enjoyed reading and experiencing it. There was nothing difficult about reading. Great overall

The main theme of the book that i think is never giving up. Even with everything happening to Toyo he never gave up. That takes pure determination and dedication both at the same time. Thats what it taught me to never give up. They are important because you should never give up even when it feels impossible you shouldnt ever give up.

[Shobana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age book for a teenager in late 19th century Japan when old “Samurai” Japan was transitioning to modern “western” (geijen) Japan.

The book is based on real stories and to know events mentioned in the book happened is disturbing. The hierarchical culture, the intense high school, the up tight attitude towards outside world - is all educational.

May be this is the reason why Japanese soldiers are depicted as intense, unsympathetic, cruel in many movies.

Learnt quite a bit of Japanese words with their meaning ingrained in my mind
Seppuku, Geijen, bushido, wa, ba, eta, baka(cuss word) 🙂.

I thought we my son and I read all of Alan GratZ’s book and this was quite a surprise find. I think this was his debut novel.

We love Japanese culture for many things and this books gives us more perspective in to their old Samurai Japan.

Will let my son read it next year.

[Shannon Parkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the vivid descriptions of baseball play and the historical depictions of Japan, as well as the author's note about the harsh bullying described in the book. I wish the author's note had discussed why the detailed description of the samurai suicide was included. As an adult woman who has listened to more than 400 middle- grade and young adult books in the last two years, who also volunteers for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and is a suicide prevention advocate, I found the scene triggering and wish Alan Gratz had included current resources for suicide prevention 988 https://988lifeline.org/ in the book. Yes, I realize 988 only became active in July of 2022, but the 10 digit suicide prevention hotline has been in existence for decades.

[Tejask · Rating 5 out of 5]

the turning point was near the beginning and was in the middle of the book it was when the main characters uncle was about to commit seppuku(aka Suicide for not following the code Bushido). toyo was sad but he realized that his uncle deserved it because he did a really bad crime. but then toyo was sent to a high academic school and something he fell in love with was baseball. he joins the team but at first he wasn't that good but then he started to go up the ranks. then one day came when the Japanese were going against the Americans it was ruff but then toyo hit a home run and they one the game

[Dan Shonka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first sampling of Alan Gratz's historical fiction for me. The book does a great job showing the angst of the transition from boy to man set in Japan's history as that country transitioned from samurai traditions to "modernization." Mr. Gratz's love of baseball is once again evident (read his book Fantasy Baseball), as is his big heart. He'll take you through a range of emotions. The best part of all is this story is based on a true story, and Mr. Gratz tells you about that at the end of the book. This is an excellent book to read.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I couldn't put down. I originally read it for a young adult literature class, but I had my book club read it a few years later because it just stuck with me. It's a coming-of-age story of a boy whose family was samurai, and he must find a way to integrate his Japanese culture with impending modernization--including baseball, a sport he loves deeply. He wrestles with grief, his relationship with his father, cruel hazing, masculinity, and his own moral code. It's the kind of story that will pull you in and make you forget your own life for a while, in the best way.

[Sirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toyo's school is supposedly for the best of the best, but somehow it's more of a place where the older and more powerful boys systematically abuse the younger. Toyo accepts this initially, but he can't bear to be kept out of a sport he excels at: baseball. Meanwhile, he's still reeling from the supposedly honorable suicide his uncle performed in front of him and grappling with the society's shift from his father's values.

I think there's value in this book, not only as a historical piece but also as a story of resilience and coming of age. It's also disturbing on a lot of levels.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about a true story about a high schooler that was educated in high school. I give it a three star, because it's pretty confusing, but it was good by how fun to read the book. I liked that it's a true story, it just makes it more wanting to read than normal. I didn't like that when the book gets to confusing in the middle of the book. I would recommend to people that's interested in japanese culture.

[Ion D · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion this book is Alan Gratz's best. It kind of sticks with his expertise of historical fiction but instead of being based in a war this book is based after World War 2. It is a fast paced shorter book about a Japanese kid who goes to this really respected Japanese high school to play baseball. While he's there he learns about his families history as samurai and asks his Father to teach him about their code.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching his beloved uncle Koji commit suppuku, Toyo begins class at a presitigious Japanese school Ichiki. There, he is learning the new Westernized Japan and the traditional ways while balancing both with baseball.

3.5 rounded up. Would have preferred if Gratz had worked with someone Japanese on the book. He did however to extensive research. Some of the scenes of violence like the closed fist ceremony where rough to read. The afterword helps to provide context for it though.

[Heidi A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toyo and his father Sotaro have a typical father/son relationship were they struggle to understand each other. The thing I liked best was how the author kept showing us balance or the wish for things to balance. I also applaud the story for showing me how samurais and baseball are similar. Originally I picked up the book because it seemed a weird concept to me. That grew into a great growing up story for Toyo and Japan.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bushido lives on

Bushido,-loyalty, courage, and compassion is at the very heart of this moving novel by Alan Gratz. Gratz focuses on Toyo and his classmates in an exclusive high school as they struggle to find themselves in the period following the end of the samurai. Baseball is what brings them all together, as the Japanese boys grow together as one.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught me off guard at first. It is quite graphic in terms of the emotional punch of the violence. Alan Gratz’s author’s note is excellent to explain the suicide ceremony and hazing sessions, but they were hard to stomach. It only goes to support how well the book was researched and executed. This author never fails to surprise, amaze or impress me.

[Fernando Hernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book that reminds us that we can improve, and also how we can solve some problems with a great team and hardworking.
I liked how the main character had a good development becoming his best version trough playing baseball and applying the Bushido on it.